Potato digger and sacker



. E'. SAMPLE POTATO BIGGER AND SACKER 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed. Sept. 20, 1945 @5, m49, M. E. SAMPLE PTTO DGGER AND SACKER Filed sept. 2o, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM TON 5AMPLE pri 26, i949v M. B. SAMPLE POTATO BIGGER AND SACKER 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 2C)A 1945 Y Apr 269 E949. M. E. AMPLE POTATO BIGGER AND SACKER Filed Sept.

8 Sheets-Sheet 4 MILTON SAMPLE vwwtoa I I llllllll M. E. SAMPLE 'OTTO DIGGER AND SACKER 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sep. 20, 1945 MILTON SAMPE 26, @49 M. E. SAMPLE POTATQ BIGGER AND SCKER 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 20. 194,5

MILTON SAMPLE 255, M E. SAMPLE 29468,@39

PoTATo BIGGER AND SACKER Filed Sept. 20, 1945 8 She'eS-Sheet '7 M. B. SAMPLE PoTATo BIGGER AND sAcxER Filed Sen-a.

8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented pr. 26, 19,49

Po'rA'ro moana AND sacxna Milton B. Sample, Elizabeth City, N. C. Application september zo, 1945. serial No. 617,505

This invention relates to'a potato digger and sacker and more especially to a tractor having mounted on.v one side thereof a suitable digging' and conveying apparatus .which separates the earth from the potatoes after digging the same out of the ground and conveys the potatoes rearwardly where they fall through a second conveyor which separates the tops from the potatoes. The second conveyor passes between a pair of rollers which squeeze any remaining potatoes from the tops while the tops are discharged out of the rear of the machine while the potatoes fall downwardly onto a transverse third conveyor which conveys the potatoes across to the other side and rearwardly of the tractor.

The third or transverse conveyor is tilted forwardly so that the potatoes will roll forwardly 13 claims. (ci. 55-'51) towards the forward edge of the transverse conveyor and just beiore they reach the end of the conveyor will fall into an elevating or fourth conveyor where they will be elevated and dropped onto a fifth conveyor which' will convey them to a suitable seeking mechanism where they will be dumped into suitable sacks disposed on a suitable platform carried by the tractor.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tractor equipped with a potato digging apparatus which will dig the potatoes and separate the earth from the potatoes together with means for separating the tops from the potatoes and removing from the tops any remaining potatoes adhering thereto and transferring the potatoes laterally and behind the tractor and intoan elevating con veyor where they are elevated and'deposited into suitable containers or bags carried by a suitable platform on the tractor.

It is another object of this invention to provide a potato digger and sacker adapted to be carried by atractor whichv willl dig the potatoes, separate the earth and other foreign matter from the potatoes, and sack the potatoes while the tractor is traveling across the field.

lThis application is a continuation in part of my co-pending patent application for a Potato digger and sacker, Serial No. 605,368, filed July 16, 1945, which became abandonedJuly '7, 1947.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects 'will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in. which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tractor equipped with my approvedA apparatus and showing a large portion of the rear wheel ofthe tractor broken away; A

Figure 2 is aside elevational! the other side -of the tractor from that shown in Figure 1 with most of the rear wheel oi.' the tractor broken away;

Figure 3 is a top planjview of the tractor showing my complete apparatus associated therewith;

Figure 4 is a front elevation taken substantially along the line 4 4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the line 5 5 in Figure 6 and showing means for mounting the pulleys on which the conveyors are mounted, said structure being common to the first, second, and third conveyors hereinafter to be described; l

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale and taken substantially along the line 5 6 in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a'view on an enlarged scale and taken substantially along the line 'I 'i in Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale andptaken substantially along the line 8 8 in Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 9 9 in Figure 3 and omitting the upper front portion of the elevating conveyor;

Figure 10 is an isometric view showing the manner in which the bars are mounted on the belt to make the conveyors, such as the first, second, and third conveyors;

Figure il is an isometric view showing another form of conveyor adapted to be Vused in the mechanism shown in Figure 8, that is', the elevating conveyor;

Figure 12 is a plan view of a type of the conventional conveyor chain which may be used to good advantage in the first, second, and third conveyors in the apparatus herein described;

Figure 13 is an edge view of the type of conveyor chains shown in Figure 12.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral I0 represents the body portion of a suitable tractor having a base portion or frame portion II and conventional front wheels I2 and conventional rear wheels I3- and I4. In Figures 1 and 2 much of these rear wheels I3 and I4 are broken away in order to show the portions of the invention appearing therebehind. The rear wheels I3 and I4 are mounted on the ends of suitable splined axles I5 which are mounted in axle housings I6 extending from each side of a transmission housing I1.

The bed portion II of the tractor has xedly mounted therein a pair of pipes 20 and 2I which extend laterally from each side thereof for supaxle housing is a pair of brackets 30 and 3|V in which a transverse pipe 32 is secured by means of suitable- U-bolts 33 in the same manner on both sides as shown in Figure' 2. Mounted on top of the pipe 32 are inner and outer horizontally and longitudinally disposed channel bars 34-and 35. these channel bars 34 and A3 5 being secured in position on top of pipe 32 by means of suitable U-bolts 33.

Near the front end of the frame, thevchannel bars 34 and 35 have suitable angle brackets 31 and 38 whose upper ends are secured to the lower surface of pipe 2| by means of U-bolts 33. Pivotally secured on the inner sides of the channel bars 34 and 35 are angle bars 4| and 42, these being pivoted to the channel bars 34 and 35 by.

means of suitable bolts 43. These angle bars 4| and 42 project forwardly and downwardly and have secured to the lower surface thereof vat their forward ends the legs 46 and 41 of digger plate 43 which is pointed at its end for entering the ground and passing below the potatoes in a row. The digger 43 is shown in the drawings in partially elevated position.

Suitable sheet ironshield members 5| and 52 cover the front ends of the angle bars 4| and 42. The shield members also extend upwardly, outwardly, and downwardly and cover up the front ends of the angle bars 4| and 42 and are bolted end is vfixed to the inverted u-sneped member f 11 by means of a bolt 33. Mounted on the channel' bar 22 is a member which has an arc portion which is toothed on one edge and the lever 30 has a member 35 having a knife-edge adapted to engage the notches in the arc portion 34 to thus adjust the depth of cut of the knife 43 by the adjustment of the lever 30 relative to the arc segment 34. i Y

Secured to the channel members 34 and 35 as by welding, at a point slightly rearwardly of and below the rear axle of the tractor is a pair of upwardly and rearwardly slanting channel bars 30 and v,3|. and 33 on their lower surfaces in which a shaft 34 is mounted for rotation. This shaft 34 has iixedly mounted thereon a pair of pulleys 35 and 33 on which are mounted the belts 31 and 33 of a conveyor chain for conveying the potatoes rearwardly after they have been dug. The front ends of these belts 31 and 33 are mounted on pulleys |00 and-40| which are mounted for rotation on a shaft |02 as shown in Figure 5.

All idler pulleysiin" this mechanism are of the same structure as'shown in Figure 5 wherein a shaft such as |02 is secured to angle iron 4| or any other angle to which it is secured as shown throughbut the drawings by means of a bolt |03 and this shaft is penetrated by bolts or pins |04 and |05, confiningwashers |03 and |01 thereon for idly confining the idler pulleys such as |00.

The conveyor belts 31 and 38 have secured thereon a plurality of rods H0, alternate of these rods being bent downwardly and other rods being through the horizontal portion of angle bars 4| and 42 as at 44 to hold them in position. These shield members 5| and 52 have vertically disposed portions 30 and 5| which direct the earth and potatoes onto the conveyor, to be presently described, after they have been loosened up by the digger 43. The members 5| and 52 are secured to the inner surface of the angle bars 4| and 42 by means of the bolts 43 and bolts 53.

Secured' to the inner uprising angle of channel bar 22 and extending upwardly is a bar 33 which is slotted as atv 34 and in which slot, is adapted to have vertical movement a spacer pipe 55 which is disposed between lift bars 63 and 31 which are secured to the ends of -the pipe by means of a bolt 38. This spacer pipehas vertical movement in the slot 34 in the uprising bar 33.

The two bars 63 and 51 extend downwardly and are secured at their lower ends to the angle bars 4| and 42 by the bolts 53, whereby the depth of the cut of the digger 43 can be adjusted and whereby the digger 43 can be raised entirely out of the ground if desired. A hook 12 is secured around the spacer pipe 65. A cable 14 is secured to hook 12 and passes over a pulley 'I3 rotatably mounted on the upper end of bar 03 and cable '|4 extends to an arm il of a hydraulic lift mechanism 'l5 which is controlled by lever-|0, whereby the digger 48 can be raised or lowered. e

Also, rotatably mounted around the spacer pipe 35 is an inverted U-shaped member 11 and between the lower free ends of same is rotatably bent upwardly to present an uneven eiect to thus prevent the potatoes from rolling down-- wardly on the conveyor as they are conveyed rearwardly up the pivoted digger portion and also the rearward portion of this conveyor as it climbs 410 upwardly along channel bars 30 and 3|.

mounted a roller i3 on a bolt 73 which penetrates A- portion-of the rods adjacent the belts are notcurved but serve to receive a suitable agitator sprocket on each side thereof such as indicated by reference characters ll2'and H3. These agitator sprockets are rotatably mounted on suitable rods ||4 and H5 which are secured to the lower edges of angles 4| and 42 and channel bars 34 and 35 in the same manner as shown in Figure 5. The uneven shape of'these sprocket wheels ||2 and |'|3 causes vup and down movement of the conveyor as it rotates the sprockets by engaging the same, and thus assists in shaking the soil from the potatoes and causing the soil to fall throughthe conveyor while the potatoes are carried rearwardly by the conveyor. The idler pulleys for supporting the lower or returning portion of the conveyor also engage the uncurved ends of the rods ||0 for supporting the 'conveyor on its return.

Adjacent the point where the upwardly slanting channelgirons 30 and 9| are secured to the channelbars 34 and 35 is a pair of cone idler puileys and ||8 which engage the belts 31 and 93 and hold the conveyor depressed at this point l to keep it from dening a straight line from idler sprockets ||2 and H3 to th'epulleys 95 and 36. The upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the conveyor which is'disposed between the'.

channel bars 30 and 3| is a very valuable feature in that it obtains better separation between the soil and the potatoes when the digging is heavy and separation is difcu'lt. By having this up- A These bars have bearings 32` accesso will have a tendency to roll down the inclined portion and, thus, will be completely broken up so that the soil will fall through the conveyor belt.

There is also secured on the lower surface of l Vto prevent their dragging the ground.

There are also mounted on the lower surface of channel bars 30 and 35 suitable brackets |32 which extend downwardly and have a rod |23 secured thereto in the same manner as shown in Figure 5 on which other idler pulleys |24 are mounted for supporting the belts 01 and 00 and holding the returning portion of the conveyor off the ground.

Rigidly secured to, as by welding, and projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the channel 90 is a pair of angle bars |30 and |3|, and similar bars |32 and |33 are secured at their upper ends to the channel bar 0|. as by welding, and project downwardly and rearwardly.

Mounted in the angle bars |30 and |32 are two rods |34 and |35 on which is mounted a pair of idler pulleys |35 and |31, there being two idler pulleys |30 on rod |34 and two idler pulleys |31 on rod |35. These idler pulleys are mounted in the same manner as shown in Figure 5. There is also mounted a shaft or rod |30 between the angle bars |3| and |33 and a pair of idler pulleys |39 are mounted on this rod |30 in the same manner as shown in Figure 5.

In the extreme end, and on the lower surface thereof, of channel bars 00 and 0| is rotatably mounted a shaft |4| having fixed thereon a pair of pulleys |42 and |43, which shaft |4| is driven .in a manner hereinafter to be described.

On the pulleys |36, |31, |30, |42, and |43 are mounted belts |45 and |46, which belts have a plurality of rods |41 disposed thereacross, which are about three times as far apart as the rods ||0 on the first named conveyor comprising belts ings |53 secured on the upper surface of channel bars 90 and 0|'. These channel bars 00 and 6| also have the slots |52 extending down into the channel bars so that roller |5| can have up and down movement in these slots |52 and at all times press against the conveyor comprising belts |45 and |45.

As the first conveyor comprising belts 01 and 90 dumps the potatoes and potato tops off theV rear end thereof, the potatoes will fall through the spokes or rods |41 of conveyor comprising belts |45 and |40 down onto the transverse conveyor to be presently described, but the potato tops will not fall through this conveyor and will be conveyed rearwardly where, as they pass between the rollers |50 and III, the potatoes will be stripped from the tops while the tops will pass onwardly and rearwardly between the rollers |50 and |5|' and be discharged out of the rear of the machine. The potatoes which are still ,l adhering to the tops and being removed from the roots of the tops by the rollers |50 and |5| will fall downwardly and strike a plurality of spaced rods |54 forming a grill. These rods are loosely secured at one end around the shaft |4| and at their other ends they rest onva transverse shaft |55. This directs these falling potatoes downwardly onto the transverse conveyor to be presently described.

The rear end of the channel irons 34 and '35 are also fixedly secured by welding or otherwise "to the downwardly and rearwardly projecting angle bars |3| and |32. v

Fixedly secured to the downwardly and rearwardly projecting angle bar |33 is a substantially horizontally disposed angle bar |50 in the outer end of which is mounted a bearing |6|' in which a shaft |62 is rotatably mounted, the other end of this shaft being mounted in a suitable bearing |64 secured in a downwardly depending angle bar |65. In these bearings ISH and |64 is rotatably mounted the shaft |62 which has affixed thereon a pair of pulleys |66 and |61 on which belts |60 and |69 are mounted. Bar |60 is supported by a strut |59 secured near the outer end of bar |60 and having its other `end secured to channel bar 9|'.

The belts |60 and |69 have rods |10 disposed thereacross in the sa'rne manner as the other rods for the other' conveyors as previously described except that they are straight and not` bowed alternately up and down. The other nd of the belt is rotatably mounted on idler pulleys |1| and |12 which are rotatably mounted on'a shaft |13 whose ends are secured by bolts |14 in the downwardlyprojecting angle bars |30 and |3|. There are'also disposed between the ends of the first-named conveyor one or more idler mechanisms such as a rod |15 being bolted 'at the rear end to horizontal angle |60, the forward end being bolted to vertical angle |32. Mounted on rod |15 are idler. pulleys |'16 and |11, the structure of this rod |15 and pulleys |16 and |11 being substantially the same as shown in detail in Figure 5. p

The lower or returning portion of the transverse conveyor is also supported by suitable idler pulleys |10 and |10 disposed on shafts |80 which prevents the lower leaf of the endless conveyor from sagging downwardly too far. Adjacent the front or lowermost leg of the transverse conveyor is disposed a plate |0| which prevents the potatoes from rolling forwardly ofi the front edge of the conveyor as it is to be noted that this conveyor is slightly tilted between fifteen and twenty degrees so as to cause the potatoes to roll forwardly towards the front of the tractor; whereas, clods, stones, and uneven objects will not roll forwardly but will be discharged off of the end of the conveyor on the left hand side of the tractor as .it progresses forwardly. The metal plate |0| is cut away when it reaches the elevating conveyor,

to be presently described, so that the potatoes can fall into the elevating conveyor.

Secured to the outer 'wall 242 of the elevating conveyor, to be later described, is a bracket |02 which has a sheet of material |03, such as belting, which directs the potatoes from the transverse conveyor onto the elevating conveyor.

The transverse conveyor just described is driven by means of the shaft |62 having a pulley |05 thereon on which is mounted a belt |06, which is also mounted on a pulley |01 on the rear end of a. shaft which is connected to one of the suitable power take-oils |02 of the tractor, controlled by a lever |03. This shaft |00 has a conventional universal jointv |00 therein.

The rear end of the shaft |00 is supported by means oi' a bearing |00 disposed on a bracket |23 whose lower end is mounted on the horizontally extending bar 00.

The tractor also has another suitable power take-od 200, controlled by a lever |99, and having a pulley thereon which in the present type rotates in a counterclockwise manner thus requiring idler pulleys in order to drive the mechanism ,in the right direction. This comprises an uprising bar 202 having its lower end secured to the channel bar 22 and lbeing provided with a pair of idler pulleys 203 and 204 over which a belt 205 passes.- This arrangement causes the belt 205 to remain in contact with the pulley 20| whereby movement is imparted to the belt.

The belt 205 is also mounted on a pulley 208 which is fixed on a transverse shaft 209 disposed in bearing brackets 2|0 mounted on the upper surfaces of the channel bars 34 and 35; This shaft 209 extends to the right in Figure 3 or towards the tractor and has a pulley 2| I thereon on which a belt 2|2 is mounted, which belt is also mounted on a pulley 2l3 fixed on the shaft 60 which imparts rotation to the first conveyor chain which conveys the potatoes from the time they are dug, back to the point of dumping onto the top-separating conveyor. v

The shaft 94 also has mounted thereon a smaller pulley 2|4 which has a belt 2|5 mounted thereon which is also mounted on a pulley 2|6 fixed on shaft l4| which thus drives the topseparating conveyor. The belt 2|5 4also contacts a pulley 220 mounted on a shaft 22|, which is mounted at one end in a bearing 2 22 on a bracket 2| secured on top of the sloping channel bar ill, and mounted at its other en d on a suitable angle iron 223, and having a pulley 226 thereon on which a belt 225 is mounted for driving the elevating conveyor to be presently described.

The angle bar 223 is supported by other angle bars 230 and 23| which rise upwardly from a channel bar 232 which is supported on the left hand side of the tractor by resting on pipe 32 and having a U-bolt 33 around the pipe and penetrating the flange of the channel bar 232. The front end of this channel bar 232 is supported by having a bracket 235 secured to the upper surface thereof and also secured by means of a suitable U-bolt 234 which passes around the pipe 2| and penetrates a flange of the bracket 235.

Secured to the channel bar 232 and to the channel bar 35 is a transverse angle -bar 260 to which the vertical angle bar 230, previously described, is secured by welding or otherwise at its lower end and also a vertical bar 2M rises up from this angle bar 200 and these bars 230 and 2M support the side walls 2&2 and 243 of an elevating conveyor. This elevating conveyor has an idler shaft 264 near its lower end on which two pulleys 205EL are mounted, and near the upper end between the side walls 242 and 243 is a shaft 226 on which pulleys 248 are mounted, and on the pulleys 246 and the lower pulleys 22kta are mounted belts 250 and which have secured thereacross a plurality of paddles 253 which have a wiping edge 254, of material suchas leather, secured at their outer edges. Instead of V-belts 250 and 25|, I may use sprocket chains such as indicated at 252 with occasional links having fins 256 projecting therefrom to which the paddles 253 may be secured by bolts 256. This conveyor has immediately below the uppermost portion thereof a partition or bottom member 260 on which the belts run, and this prevents the potatoes from falling between the belts and causes the paddles on the belts to raise the potatoes upwardly when they fall thereinto at the lower end from the transverse conveyor comprising belts |68 and |69.

As will be seen in Figure 8, there is suitably secured between the side walls 242 and 243 a sheet metal member 265 onto which the potatoes fall from the transverse conveyor and are scooped up by the paddles of the elevating conveyor. The false bottom member 260 also has another sheet metal member 266 secured thereto and curving around the idler shaft 244 to prevent the potatoes from falling through the conveyor mechanism. The upper end of the 4bottom 260 of the conveyor has a sheet metal portion 261 which surrounds the driven shaft 246 and prevents the potatoes from falling down around the shaft but causes them to fall onto the next conveyor to be described.

The driven shaft 246 has a pulley 268 thereon on which a belt 225 is mounted which belt is also mounted on the pulley 224 on the transverse shaft 22| which imparts motion to the elevating conveyor. The front end of this .elevating conveyor has secured thereto the side walls 200 and 28| of a horizontal meshed conveyor 213 which is made of suitable woven wire which conveys the potatoes outwardly to where they will be sacked. The rear portion of the horizontal conveyor and the front portion of the elevating conveyor are supported by vertical members 21| and 212, welded at their base to a transverse angle 269 mounted on axle housing I6 by welding or other means. This horizontally disposed conveyor 213 is mounted on a suitable roller 214 at one end and a driven roller 215 at its other end which is driven by means of a pulley 216 and a belt 211 which belt is also fixed on a pulley 218 on shaft 246. A suitable idler pulley 219 cooperates with the belt 211.

The side walls of this horizontal conveyor are indicated by 260 and 26|. As the potatoes fall from the elevating conveyor onto the horizontal conveyor they strike also a board 283 which prevents their falling back down between the rear 'end of the horizontal conveyor and elevating conveyor.

Also suitable sheet metal members 224 are disposed on each side of the horizontal conveyor and joined to the side walls of the elevating conveyor to prevent the potatoes from bouncing out of the horizontal conveyor. The potatoes are discharged off of the horizontal conveyor onto a sloping 4board *285 which has a pivoted board 286 thereon which is pivoted on uprising bolt 281.

Secured to the front end of this horizontal conveyor are upright angle members 288 and 209 which support the front end of this horizontal conveyor. Secured to these angles 280 and 288 are U-shaped members 290 which have downwardly and rearwardly projecting hooks 29|, a pair of such hooks being at -the rear portion of each of the U-shaped members 290, and each U-shaped member has pivoted thereto as at 294 a U-shaped member 295 which is adapted to pivot down and rest against .a projection 290 on the front end of each of the U-shaped members 290 so as to frictionally hold the open end of a sack 298 between the pivoted U-shaped member and the xed. Ul-shaped member after its front edges have been hooked over the hooks. These sacks are adapted to rest on a suitable platform 300 which is supported by suitable bolts 30| suspended from Ithe pipes 20 and 2l. f

In the drawings and specication there has has been set forth a preferred embodiment ci the invention, and although specific terms are employed. they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims:

I claim:

1. A potato digger adapted to be mounted on a power driven wheeled frame. commonly referred to as a tractor, comprising a longitudinally extending framework disposed on one side of the tractor, a pivoted digger mounted on the front end of the framework and means for lowering and raising the pivoted digger into and out of the ground, said framework extending rearwardly of the rear wheels of the tractor and having its rear end slanting upwardly, an endless conveyor having its front end mounted in the iront end of the pivoted digger and its rear end mounted in the rear end of the upwardly slanting portion of the framework, means driven by the tractor for imparting movement to the conveyor to convey the potatoes rearwardly of the tractor and upwardly on the inclined rear portion of the framework. a transversely disposed endless conveyor disposed behind the tractor and onto which the potatoes are adapted to fall from the rear end of the first conveyor, said transverse conveyor having its front edge at a lower` elevation than its rear edge whereby the potatoes will roll downwardly towards the front edge of the transverse conveyor while clods and other foreign matter will not roll forwardly on the conveyor but will be discharged from the discharge end of the conveyor, and means connected to the power takeoff means of the tractor for driving the conveyors.

2. A potato digger adapted to be mounted on a power driven wheeled frame, commonly referred to as a tractor, comprising a longitudinally extending framework disposed on one side of the tractor, a pivoted digger mounted on the front end of the framework and means for lowering and raising the pivoted digger vr:into and out of the ground, said .framework extending rearwardly of the rear wheels of the tractor and having its rear end slanting upwardly, an endless conveyor having its front end mounted in the front end of the pivoted digger and its rear end mounted in the rear end of the upwardly slanting portion of the framework, means driven by the tractor for imparting movement to the conveyor to convey the potatoes rearwardly of the tractor and upwardly on the inclined rear portion of the framework, a transversely disposed endless conveyor disposed behind the tractor and onto which the potatoes are adapted to fall from the rear end of the irs't conveyor, said transverse conveyor having its front edge at a lower elevation than its rear edge whereby the potatoes will roll downwardly towards the front edge of the transverse conveyor while -clods and other foreign matter will not roll forwardly on the conveyor but will be discharged from the discharge end of the conveyor, an upwardly and forwardly projecting conveyordisposed on the other side oi the tractor and into which the potatoes are adapted to fall from the transverse conveyor for elevating the potatoes, a fourth 10 the containers, and means connected to the power tal-reci! means of the tractor for driving the conveyors.

3. A potato digger adapted to be mounted on a power driven wheeled frame, commonly referred to as a tractor, comprising a longitudinally extending framework disposed on one side of the tractor, a pivoted digger mounted on the front end of the framework and a power take-off on the tractor for lowering and raising the pivoted digger into and out of the ground, said framework extending rearwardly of the rear wheels of the tractor and having its rear end slanting upwardly, an endless conveyor having its front end mounted in the front end of the pivoted digger and its rear end mounted in the rear end of the upwardly slanting portion of the framework, a second power take-off on the tractor for imparting movement to the conveyor to convey the potatoes rearwardly of the tractor and upwardly on the inclined rear portion of the framework, a transversely disposed endless conveyor disposed behind the tractor and onto which the potatoes are adapted to fall from the rear end-of the first conveyor, said transverse conveyor having its front edge at a lower elevation than its rear edge wherebythe potatoes will roll downwardly towards the front edge of the transverse conveyor while clods and other foreign matter will not roll forwardly on the conveyor but will be discharged from the discharge end of the conveyor,l a third power take-:ofi on the tractor for driving the transverse conveyor.

Li. A potato digger adapted to be mounted on a power driven wheeled frame, commonly referred to as a tractor, comprising a longitudinally extending framework disposed on one side of the tractor, a pivoted digger mounted on the front end of the framework and means for lowering and raising the pivoted digger into and out of the ground, said framework extending rearwardly of the rear wheels of the tractor and having its rear end slanting upwardly, an endless conveyor having its front end mounted in the front end of the pivoted digger and its rear end mounted in the rear end of the upwardly slanting portion of the framework, a transversely disposed endless conveyor disposed behind the tractor and having one end disposed below the rst conveyor and onto which the potatoes are adapted to fall from the rear end of the first conveyor, said transverse conveyor having its front edge at a lower elevation than its rear edge whereby the potatoes will roll downwardly towards the front edge of the transverse conveyor while clods and other foreign matter will not roll forwardly on the conveyor but will be discharged from the discharge end of the conveyor, a coarse-meshed endless conveyor disposed below the rear end of the first conveyor and above the second conveyor for permitting potatoes to fall through the same butretaining the potato tops and other vegetation and discharging it to the rear of the second conveyor, and a pair of rollers between which the coarse meshed conveyor passes to strip the tops from any potatoes which may be still adhering to the tops, means disposed below the rollers and onto which the separated potatoes may fall for directing such separated potatoes onto the transverse conveyor, and means connected to the power takeoil.' means of the tractor for driving the con= veyors.

5. A potato digger adapted to be mounted on a power driven wheeled frame, commonly referred to as a tractor. comprising a longitudinally ii extending framework disposed on one side of the tractor, a pivoted digger mounted on the front end of the framework and means for lowering and raising the pivoted digger into and out of the ground, said framework extending rearwardly of the rear wheels of the tractor and having its rear end slanting upwardly, an endless conveyor having its front end mounted in the front end of the pivoted digger and its rear end mounted in the rear end of the upwardly slanting portion of the framework, a transversely disposed endless conveyor disposed behind the tractor and onto which the potatoes are adapted to fall from the rear end of the rst conveyor, said transverse conveyor having its front edge at a lower elevation than its rear edge whereby the potatoes'will roll downwardly towards the front edge of the transverse conveyor while clods and other foreign matter will not roll forwardly on the conveyor but will be discharged from the discharge end of the conveyor, an upwardly and forwardly projecting conveyor disposed on the other side of thetractor and into which the potatoes are adapted to fall from the transverse conveyor for elevating the potatoes, a fourth conveyor disposed below the upper end of the upwardly and forwardly projecting conveyor for receiving the potatoes and moving them forwardly of the tractor,` means associated with the front end of the conveyor for holding a plurality of containers and pivoted gate means for selectively directing the potatoes into any one of the containers, a coarse-meshed endless conveyor disposed below the rear end of the first conveyor and above the second conveyor for permitting potatoes to fall through the same but retaining the potato tops and other vegetation and discharging it to the rear of the second conveyor, and a pair oi rollers between which the coarse-meshed conveyor passes to strip any potatoes which may be stili adhering to the tops, means disposed below the rollers onto which the separated potatoes may fall for directing such separated potatoes onto the transverse conveyor, and means connected to the power takeoff means of the tractor for driving the conveyors.

6. A potato digger adapted to be mounted on a power driven wheeled frame, commonly referred to as a tractor, comprising a longitudinally extending framework disposed onv one side of the tractor, a pivoted digger mounted on the front end of the framework and means for lowering and raising the pivoted digger into and out of the ground, said framework extending rearwardly of the rear wheels of the tractor and having its rear end slanting upwardly, an endless conveyor having its front end mounted in the front end'of the pivoted digger and its rear end mounted in the rear end of the upwardly slanting portion of the framework, means driven by the tractor for imparting movement to the conveyor to convey the potatoes rearwardly of the tractor and upwardly on the inclined rear portion of the framework, a transversely disposed endless conveyor disposed behind the tractor and onto which thepotatoes are adapted to fall from the rear end of the first conveyor, said transverse conveyor having its front edge at a lower elevation than its rear edge whereby the potatoes will roll downwardly towards the front edge of the transverse conveyor while clods and other foreign matter will not roll forwardly on the conveyor but will be discharged from the discharge end of the conveyor, both of said conveyors being perforated to allow dirt to fall therethrough but preventing the potatoes from falling through thev conveyors, a coarsela meshed endless conveyor disposed below the rear end of the rst conveyor a above the second conveyor for permitting potatoes to fall through the same but retaining the potatoes' tops and other vegetation and discharging the same to the rear of the second conveyor, a pair or rollers betweenpwhich the coarse-meshed conveyor passes fto separate the tops and vegetation from any potatoes whlchmay be still adlier to the tops, means disposed below therollers onto which the separated potatoes ^may fall for directing such separated potatoes :onto the transverse conveyor,

and means kconiriected to the power takeo means of the tractor for driving the conveyors. f 7. A potato digger adaptedto be mounted on a power driven wheeled fre, commonly referred to as a tractor, comprising a longitudinally extending framework disposed on one side oi the tractor, a pivoted digger mounted on the front end of the framework and means for lowering and raising'thepivoted dig/ger into and out of the ground, said framework enten4 ai. rearwardly of the rear wheels of the 'tractor and having its frontend mounted in the front end of the pivoted digger and its rear end mount'edfin the rear end lof the' lupwardly sianting portion of the framework, means driven'by the tractor for imparting movement-to the conveyor to convey the potatoes rearwardly of the tractor and upwardly on the inclined rear portion of the framework, a transversely disposed endlessconveyor disposed behind the tractor and ontogwhich the 'potatoes are adapted to fall fromthe rear end' of the rst conveyor, said transverse conveyor having its front edge at a lower elevation than its rear edge whereby the potatoes will rolly downwardly to-l wards the front edge of 'the transverse conveyor while clods and other foreign matter will not roll forwardly onthe conveyor butwill be discharged from the discharge-end oflthe'conveyor, an upwardly and forwardly projecting conveyor disposed on the other side of the 4tractor and into which the potatoes are adapted to fall from the transverse conveyor* fori elevating the potatoes,

a fourth conveyoil disposed below the upper end of the upwardly and forwardly projecting` conveyor for receiving the potatoes and moving them forwardly of thetractor, means associated with the front end of the conveyor for holding ajplurality of containers and pivoted gate means for"selectively directing the potatoes into anyone of' the containers', all

of said conveyors being perforated to allow dirt and other foreign matter to fall therethrough but preventing the potatoes from falling therethrough, a coarse-meshed endless conveyor disi of rollers, means disposed belowthe rollers for directing such separated potatoes onto the transverse conveyor, and meansconnected to the power' takeoi means oftheltractorfor driving the con' veyors.y

8. In a potato digger and sacker, a tractor, a

pair 0f Spacedrbars disposedinharisontal rela; tion on oneside of the tractor; a pair of bars having one end pivotally secured to the front end of the spaced bars, a digger mounted on the other end of the pair of pivoted bars, a pair of upwardly and rearwardly directed bars secured to the rear portion of the spaced bars and having a shaft with a pair of pulleys thereon, a shaft having a pair of pulleys thereon and mounted in close proximity to the digger, an endless conveyor mounted on the pulleys on the two shafts, said conveyor having transverse spaced rods whereby potatoes and earth excavated by the digger will be conveyed rearwardly and the earth separated from the potatoes, a plurality oi rotatahly mounted sprocket wheels of uneven contour supporting the conveyor on its rearward movement for raising and lowering the conveyor to impart vibrations thereto to assist in separating Ithe earth from the potatoes, means disposed adjacent the lower ends ofthe upwardly and rearwardly extending bars which are adapted to engage the top of the conveyor for depressing the conveyor as it ascends the rearwardly and upwardly extending bars, and means driven by the tractor for imparting movement to the conveyor.

9. In a potato digger and sacker, .a tractor, a pair of spaced bars disposed in horizontal relation on one side of the tractor, a pair of bars having one end pivotally secured to the iront end of the spaced bars, a digger mounted on the other ends of the pair of pivoted bars, a pair of upwardly and rearwardly directed bars secured to the rear portion of the spaced bars and having a shaft with a pair of pulleys thereon, a shaft having a pair of pulleys thereon and mounted in close :proximity to the digger, an endless conveyor mounted on the pulleys on the two shafts, said conveyor having transverse spaced rods whereby potatoes and earth excavated by the digger will be conveyed rearwardly and the earth separated from-the potatoes, a plurality of rotatably mounted sprocket wheels of uneven contour supporting the conveyor on its rearward movement for raising and vlowering the conveyor to impart vibrations thereto to assist in separating the earth from the potatoes, means disposed adjacent the lower ends of the upwardly and rearwardly extending bars which are adapted to engage the top'of the conveyor for depressing the conveyor as it ascends the rearwardly and upwardly extending bars, means disposed to the rear of and below the rear end of the conveyor for receivingvthe potatoes and the potato tops and separating the potatoes from the top, and discharging the tops onto the ground, means for conveying the potatoes laterally of and behind the tractor, driving means connected to the conveyor and said driving means also being connected to the means for conveying the potatoes laterally.

10. In a potato digger and sacker, a tractor, a pair of spaced hars disposed in horizontal relation on one side of the tractor, a pair of bars having one end pivotally secured to the front end of the spaced bars, a digger mounted on the other end of the pair oi pivoted bars, a pair of upwardly and rearwardly directed bars secured to the rear portion of the spaced bars and having a shaft with a pair of pulleys thereon, a shaft having a pair of pulleys thereon and mounted in close proximity to the digger, an endless conveyor mounted on the pulleys on the two shafts, said conveyor having transverse spaced rods whereby potatoes and earth excavated by the digger will be conveyed rearwardly and the earth separated from the potatoes, a

14 plurality of rotatably mounted sprocket wheels of unevenkcontour supporting the conveyor on its rearward movement for raising and lowering the conveyor to impart' vibrations thereto to assist. in separating the earthffrom the potatoes, means disposed adjacent the lower ends of the upwardly and rearwardly extending bars which are adapted to engage' the top of the conveyor for depressing the'conve'yor as it ascends the rearwardly and upwardly extending bars, means disposed to the rear of and below the rear end of the conveyor for receiving the potatoes and the potato tops and separating the potatoes from the tops, and discharging the tops onto the ground, means for conveying the potatoes laterally of and behind the tractor, an elevating conveyor disposed oriV the other side of the tractor from the first conveyor, means for directing the potatoes from the transverse conveyor into the elevating conveyor, sacking means forreceiving the potatoes from the elevating conveyor, and means upwardly and rearwardly directed bars secured.

to the rear portion of the spaced bars and having a shaft with a pair of pulleys thereon, a shaft having a pair of pulleys thereon and mounted in close proximity to the digger, an endless conveyor mounted on the pulleys on the two shafts, i

said conveyor having transverse spaced rods whereby potatoes and earth excavated by the digger will be conveyed rearwardly and the earth separated from Vthe potatoes, a plurality of rotatably mounted sprocket wheels of uneven contour supporting the conveyor on its rearward movement for raising and lowering the conveyor l to impart vibrations thereto to assist in sepa- 4rating the earth from the potatoes, means disposed adiacent the lower' ends of the upwardly and rearwardly extending bars which are adapted to engage the top of the conveyor for depressing the conveyor as it ascends the rearwardly and upwardly extending bars, means driven bythe tractor for imparting movement to the conveyor, said tractor having a hydraulic mechanism, means connecting the two pivoted bars to the hydraulic mechanism for lifting the digger, and means connected to the two pivoted bars for regulating the depth of cut of the digger.

l2. In a potato digger and sacker, a tractor, a pair oi' spaced bars disposed in horizontal relation on ne side 'of the tractor, a pair of bars having one end pivotally secured to the front end of the spaced bars, a digger mounted on the other end ofthe pair of pivoted bars, a pair of upwardly and rearwardly directed bars secured to the rear portion of the spaced bars and having a shaft with a pair of pulleys thereon, a shaft having a pair of pulleys thereon and mounted in close proximity tothe digger, an endless conveyor mounted on the pulleys on the two shafts, said conveyor having transverse spaced rods whereby potatoes and earth excayated by the digger will be conveyed rearwardly and the earth separated from the potatoes, a plurality of rotatably mounted sprocket wheels of uneven contour supporting the conveyor on its rearward movement ior raising and lowering the conveyor to impart vibrations thereto to assist in sepai rating the earth from the potatoes. means dis posed adjacent the lower ends of the upwardly and rearwardly extending bars which are adapted to engage the top of the conveyor for depressing the conveyor as it ascends the rearwardly and upwardly extending bars, means disposed to the rear of and below the rear end of the conveyor for receiving the potatoes and the potato tops and separating the potatoes from the tops, and discharging the tops onto the ground, means for conveying the potatoes laterally of and behind the tractor, driving means connected to the conveyor and said driving means also being con nected to the means for conveying the potatoes laterally, said tractor having a hydraulic mechanism, means connecting the two pivoted bars to the hydraulic mechanism for lifting the digger, and means connected to the two pivoted bars for regulating the depthof cut of the digger.

13. In a potato digger and sacker, a tractor, a pair of spaced bars disposed in horizontal relation on one side of the tractor, a pair of bars having one end pivotally secured to the front end of the spaced bars, a digger mounted on the other end of the pair of pivoted bars, a pair of upwardly and rearwardly directed bars secured to the rear portion of the spaced bars and having a shaft with a pair of pulleys thereon, a shaft having a pair of pulleys thereon and mounted in close proximity vto the digger, an endless conveyor mounted on the pulleys on the two shafts, said conveyor having transverse spaced rods whereby potatoes and earth excavated by the digger will be conveyed rearwardly and the earth separated from the potatoes, a plurality v of rotatably mounted sprocket wheels of uneven contour supporting the conveyor on its rearward movement for raising and lowering the conveyor to impart vibrations thereto to assist in sepa rating the earth from the potatoes. means disposed adiacent the lower ends of the upwardly and rearwardly extending bars which are adapted to engage the top of the conveyor for depressing the conveyor as it ascends the rearwardly and upwardly extending bars, means disposed lto the rear of and below the rear end of the conveyor for receiving the potatoes and the potato tops and separating the potatoes from the tops, and discharging the tops onto the ground, means for conveying the potatoes laterally of and behind the tractor, an elevating conveyor disposed on the other side of the tractor from the rst conveyor.' means for directing the potatoes from the transverse conveyor into the elevating conveyor, sacking means for receiving the potatoes from the elevating conveyor, means connecting the tractor to all of the conveyors for imparting movement to the same, said tractor having la hydraulic mechanism, means connecting the two pivoted bars to the hydraulic mechanism for lifting the digger, .and means connected to the two pivoted bars for regulating the depth of cut of the digger.

MILTON B. SALQLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the y le of this patent:

v UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,008,534 vFritz Nov. 14, 1911 1,592,962- Sample July 20, 1926 1,715,218 Wright May 28, 1929 1,921,190 Johnson Aug. 8, 1933 2,015,549 Dwyer Sept. 24, 1935 2,027,840 Rodin Jan. 14, 1936 2,215,516 Schooler Sept. 24, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country vDate 52,758 Austria Mar. 26, 1912 

